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Chapter 7

Nick wondered how much puke one person could have, as he watched Allen�s head go in the toilet again. Poor kid was going to really be hurting for the next several hours. Come to think of it, Nick wasn�t feeling so good either. He still hadn�t cleaned up the mess. Abe had come in a few minutes earlier and shut the door to the bathroom to �keep the smell out of the rest of the place.�

It kept it from spreading all right, but, damn, it was getting ripe in the small, enclosed space. He looked for a switch for the fan and remembered there wasn�t one. Oh, shit! Allen had now crossed over to dry heaves. Scrunching his eyes shut, Nick tried to shut out everything as his stomach churned. Too late.

�Move!�

�Huh?�

Before Allen could process the command, he found himself sprawled on the floor by the commode and it was Nick�s turn to have his head inside it. Nick slide down to the floor as Allen sat up.

Allen asked, �Feel better?�

�No. You?�

�Hell no. I just wanna lay down.�

�Ya done bein� sick?�

�I think so.�

�Come on.�

Nick helped him to his feet. They made it to the door. Cool, fresh air brushed their faces as they left the bathroom. Allen fell down on the couch and promptly let a belch rip.

Abe brought him a trash can and two one-liter bottles of water. Tapping his head, she handed him one of the bottles.

�Drink.�

He took a small sip.

�More�half the bottle.�

He grimaced, but did manage to get it down.

�Good.� Holding the trash can at eye level, she said, �Try to make it to the bathroom. If you can�t, you better make this. If you think you can make it to the bathroom, take this with you in case you can�t. Got it?�

�Got it.�

The way he shook him head made him look so young. Abe�s resolve dissolved a tiny bit. Rubbing his back, she said, �Try to sleep. Each time you wake up, drink some water.�

She covered him up with the throw on the back of the couch. Smoothing his hair out of his eyes, she left him to sleep.

She heard the water running in the bathroom and went to investigate. The scent of pine was replacing the other strong smell in the bathroom.

She felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth, as she watched Nick mop the bathroom floor. She had heard him throw-up and knew this wasn�t easy for him, but he was still doing it.

She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Glancing over his shoulder, he gave her a questioning look.

�Love you.�

He smiled, �love you, too.�

�I�ll be on the computer.�

�Okay.�

********

Chely,

Still in bed?

Since last I wrote our expectant mommy�

v Nick and Allen were drunk when they picked me up. Allen was wasted.

v Baby Bro had to the joy of throwing up on the side of the interstate with rush hour traffic watching.

v Nick had the fun of babysitting him while he threw up here at home.

v Said brother is now passed out on the couch.

v But not before making a nice mess in the bathroom on his way in.

v Nick is now cleaning of the aforementioned mess.

v Did I tell ya they went to a strip club today? Oh Yeah! That�s where they got drunk.

Was I pissed? Is my name Abe? We still have to deal with all this behavior and we will. We will deal with it �loudly� in the morning when they both need quiet. I think the �1812 Overture� cranked with a speaker by each of their heads will do nicely. Don�t you?

Do I wish they hadn�t gone to a strip club? Yes, but I�m not mad about that. You know me and the crew guys I�ve hung with; I get the fascination as long as it isn�t a regular activity. And before you ask, Nick would have told me if he went before this. I do trust him.

I�m really pissed that Nick allowed�no bought the liquor Allen got drunk on. He�s underage and they could have both been in big trouble if caught. Which leads to, I�m also mad at Nick for driving while drunk. Granted, he wasn�t as drunk as Allen, but you know how I feel about drinking and driving.

So we will work through all that. Okay now�I know you will think the pod people have gotten me, but I think this was a good thing today. I got to see a new side of Nick. I guess not a new side, but a grown-up side. He hasn�t once bitched about taking care of Allen. He got him out of the car when we had to pull over on the way home. He stayed with him while he was throwing up in the bathroom and he�s even mopping the bathroom floor from where Allen didn�t make in time. And that was even after he threw up himself. Okay, yes he knew I was pissed and yes, I suggested he help Allen out of the car�and told him to get Allen into the bathroom and put the cleaning stuff in there for him to use. But he actually did all of it without one whine and he isn�t �that� drunk.

I don�t know. It just made me less mad. Is this what love does to ya? Ya know�this love thing doesn�t suck. Also, never fear. Just cause I love �em doesn�t mean they won�t get the 1812 wake-up. Sometimes love means having a bit of an evil streak.

I guess I better go fix dinner. At least, I�m hungry.

Write when you get the chance and stay in bed.

A

Chapter 8

AJ�s maniacal cackling was coming through Nick�s cell phone loud and clear. He frowned.

�It�s not that funny.�

AJ gasped, �Yes it is.�

�Hmph!�

�Hella funny!�

�Shut up!�

�She�s your girlfriend,� AJ replied, regaining some composure. �She is a force to be reckoned with. Allen still there?�

�No. He ran home a couple of days later.�

�Smart boy.�

�Shut up.�

The silenced stretched to Nick�s breaking point.

�Fuck you!�

�You�re easy.� AJ fought cracking up again. �Seriously, Abe as some of the most inventive means of retaliation I�ve ever seen. Who else would use the 1812 Overture as punishment for a strip club outing?�

�Who else under the age of 30 has a copy of the 1812 Overture? Besides, it wasn�t cause we went to the strip club. I told you she said it was cause I got her baby brother drunk and cause I drove. Shit! I didn�t know she was women against drunk drivers.�

�It�s Mother�s Against Drunk Driving. You know M-A-D-D - MADD.�

�I know, but she ain�t a mom.�

�Huh. You got me there.�

Nick found himself smiling. �So what are you doing this week?�

�Not a damn thing and I�m bored as a muther fuck.�

�Wanna come hang out with me?�

�Are you hitting on me?�

�What!� He heard cackling again. �Fuck you!�

�So, you are hitting on me!�

�AJ!� He was now laughing, too.

�Yeah, I suppose I could come out for a few days. I�ll call ya right back. I�m gonna check flights.�

�AJ?� Shaking his head, Nick ended the call.

********

The phone had been ringing off the hook all morning and Abe was under the gun. Fifteen year old, Cassie James had the chops vocally and as a songwriter and was the newest client at Shaman. Both Abe�s bosses, Billy and Patrick, were accompanying the girl and her parents to LA later that day, which gave her only a short amount of time to verify everything was a go for the trip.

Everything had been set up until this morning, when she had received a call telling her The Tonight Show wanted Cassie for the following night�s show. It was the one show Billy and Patrick had really wanted for Cassie, but the network folks had been reluctant. Finally, Abe had gotten approval to set up the trip without the Tonight Show on the list.

However, once the big guys heard about the call, they put her to work on rescheduling appearances and making room for Cassie�s time with Leno. It was so close to coming together. She was just waiting for one radio station to call her back about moving the girl�s in studio visit from 6:30 AM to the afternoon drive time slot.

The phone rang again and she growled, before putting a smile on.

�Thanks for calling Shaman Entertainment Group. This is AB Cavett. How may I help you?� She listened to the distorted sound of someone singing the 1812 Overture.

�Hello?� She didn�t have time for prank calls.

�Remind me never to get drunk around you.�

�You don�t drink anymore.�

�And it�s a damn good thing!�

�Is there a point to this call?�

�Love you, too!� His tone taking on an edge.

�You called me at work, AJ.� Her tone went cold.

�Well, fine!�

The line went dead.

�AJ?�

Silence.

�Freak!�

She hung up and went back to work. The phone rang again.

�Shaman Entertainment Group.�

AJ cut her off. �Sorry.�

�I�m sorry, too. Things are very crazy right now and I�m up against a deadline.�

�Got it. I�ll make it quick. I talked to Nick.�

She said, �The 1812 Overture clued me in on that one.�

�Oh. Yeah. Anyway, he invited me for a visit.�

�Okay�and?�

�And is that okay with you?�

�Sure.�

�Good. I�ll call Nick back and tell him I�m coming.�

�Why did Nick want you to check with me?�

�He didn�t. I wanted to clear it with you. It is your place.�

�It is also his place.�

�Yeah, but��

�Not but.�

AJ mulled it over for a moment. �Damn! You two really are a couple.�

Laughing, she said, �I guess so.�

�Cool. I�ll let you go back to work. I need to call him back. He may be pissed.�

�Why?�

�I kinda hung up on him to call you.�

�Then you better call him back quick. Hey, when are you coming?� This was met with silence. �AJ?�

More silence.

�Freak!�

This time she was laughing as she hung up.

Chapter 9

AJ tossed his bag into the backseat.

�Where�s Abe?�

�Cleaning.�

�Still picking up your shit,� joked AJ.

Nick yanked the steering wheel hard as he pulled away for the curb. AJ quickly buckled his seatbelt as he heard a car horn behind them. Nick ignored them as he headed out of the airport.

�All my shit was picked up. I even dusted.�

�You? Dusted?�

�Yeah! But she said I didn�t do it right.�

�How�d you do it wrong?�

�Hell if I know!�

He accelerated to merge onto the interstate in front of a semi. AJ grabbed for the safety handle above the passenger door and the dash as Nick jetted across two more lanes of traffic.

�Nick! Stop driven like a damn maniac.�

Take a deep breathe, he loosened his grip on the steering wheel.

�Sorry.�

�It�s okay. I just want to get there in one piece.�

Once he was sure his friend had calmed down some, AJ tried again. �So, how did you do the dusting?�

�I don�t know. I used the rag she uses and that Pledge crap. She just said she wished I�d let her do it and then did it over. She�s doing that a lot lately. Everything has to be perfect. It�s like she�s fuckin� Harriet Beaver.�

�Who?�

�You know! On that old TV show, with Wally and the�Nelson�s Dad.�

AJ rubbed his forehead trying to fend off a headache. �Can I smoke?�

�Yeah this is my car.�

�Thank God!� Lighting up, he pushed forward. �First off, it is Harriet Nelson and she was the mom on the Ozzie and Harriet Show with their two sons with David and Ricky. And it�s Cleaver not Beaver, but I think she was just Mrs. Cleaver or Dear. She was on Leave it to Beaver and Wally was is brother.�

�In real life?�

�No! Not in real life.�

�Okay! Okay! When�d you become the freakin� expert on old TV shows.�

�Duuuude. It�s called TVLand and too much time on my hands.�

�Huh.�

�So you�re saying Abe�s become like a Stepford wife�kinda.�

Nick�s head bobbed up and down as he parked in front of the apartment.

�Nick. Man, you�ve gotta get out of this place.�

�Tell me about it, but we�re fightin� about that, too.�

AJ looked at his friend. His shoulders slumped and his steps heavy. Stepping inside the apartment, he was met with the smell of lemon fresh cleaners. Abe came down the short hall. Her face was flushed and her smile tense.

�Hey! How was your flight?�

�Routine.� He returned her hug.

They all looked at each other. The awkward silence stretched.

AJ blurted out. �Dinner.�

�What about it?�

�What�s the plan?�

Abe�s face fell. �I didn�t think about dinner. I�m sorry.�

�Good.� He pulled his wallet out, the attached chain clanking. �Dinners on me.�

�AJ.� Abe started to argue.

�Hush. Nick do you mind getting it?� He handed his friend a $20.

�McDonalds,� asked Nick.

�You know it. First class all the way.� This got a smile for the couple. �I want me usual.�

�Got it. You want Chicken or Burger?� Nick looked at his girlfriend.

�Burger.�

�Okay. I�ll be back.� He brushed his lips against hers and held her eyes for a minute.

As he headed for the door, AJ ordered, �Splurge and get us each a McFlurry.�

�Big spender,� teased Abe as the door closed behind Nick.

�That�s me Baby. Get your ass on the futon and tell me what is going on.�

�What do you mean?�

Grabbing her hand he led her to the couch where he unceremoniously pulled her down.

�I mea, you aree so stressed about cleaning that you can�t come to the airport to get me.�

�I just wanted it to be perfect.�

�What the hell for?�

�Because that�s how it�s suppose to be.�

�What the hell for?�

�Because!�

�What the hell for?�

She blew out an exasperated breath. �I don�t know!�

�You�ve never had a dirty place. Hell! Your hotel rooms were spooky neat.�

�Were not.�

�Were too.�

�Kevin�s were neater.�

�Yeah, well, Kevin is an OCD Mr. Clean kinda Freak. And baby that is the territory you are crossing over into now.�

�Liar. That�d be like�like�like my mom!�

�Then your mom and Kev would get along just fine.�

Folding her arms and taking on a defiant posture, she asked, �Why do you think that I�m like them?�

�It smells like a pine tree and a lemon were doin� the nasty with the bottle of ammonia. Not to mention the fact that you yelled at Nick for dusting wrong.�

�Well he was,� she wailed. �He sprayed the Pledge all around the things on the table, then scooted them around with his rag as it wiped it off.�

�Did it get dusted?�

�Not the point.� Her lip jutted out.

He cocked an eyebrow. �Did it get dusted? And not by you, cause I know you redid it.�

�Yes,� she barely whispered.

�Can�t hear you?� He sang.

�Yes!�

�Then back off and cut the boy some slack. When did you become a Stepford Wife?�

�I didn�t mean, too.�

�Tell him when he gets back.�

�I will.�

�Glad that�s done.� Smiling brightly, he said, �Hi!�

She returned his smile. �Hello. I�m glad you�re here.�

�Me, too. I had to get my butt off that hill.�

�What have you been doing?�

�Golf, meetings, layin� out by the pool��

�Work?�

�Nada.�

�AJ!�

�I know. Believe me it was fun in the beginning, but now it is boring.�

�I�m waiting for Nick to hit that boring stage,� she confided.

�Here he could up with song writers and stuff.�

�I know. I�ve tried to arrange some things for him, but he puts me off.�

�Damn, send�em my way,� chuckled AJ.

�You serious?�

He sobered. �Yeah, I am. Abe, I want to keep singing and paying my bills by singing.�

�Then, yeah, I can set you up some stuff while you�re here. I can probably set you up with the guys I was thinking of getting Nick with.�

The door opened to reveal Nick balancing a drink tray loaded with drinks and the McFlurries. A large bag was dangling between his teeth.

�You should have knocked,� stated Abe, rushing to take the tray from him.

Pulling the bag from his mouth, his eyes clouded as he said, �I was fine.�

AJ took this as his cue. �Damn I gotta piss like a race horse!�

Abe gently took the bag of food from Nick and placed it beside the drink tray on the coffee table. She motioned for him to sit. She surprised him by sitting on his lap. Her first attempt at a kiss was not returned, but the second one was.

She whispered, �I�m sorry.�

�For.� He wanted to make sure they were on the same page.

�For redusting. I went a little nuts there for awhile. According to AJ, I was joining the freak ranks of my mother and Kevin.�

�Ewww!�

�Exactly.� She rubbed her nose against his. �Forgiven?�

�Yep,� he replied, before pressing his lips to hers.

They heard the bathroom door open up.

�You two made up?�

�Come on out Secretariat.�

He sauntered out. �What made you think of a Triple Crown winner when thinking of me?�

�It was the first race horse I could remember. I could have said Mr. Ed. Nick, pass out the food while I put the McFlurries in the freezer.�

********

After the McFlurries had been slurped down, the three friends were channel surfing.

�You wanna shoot a round of golf tomorrow?�

�Sure. Wait. Abe do you think you will get anything lined up tomorrow?�

�Nah you should be good.�

�Lining up,� asked Nick.

�She thought she could hook me up with some writers while I�m here.�

�You did?�

Abe felt cheeks heat up under his scrutiny. �Yeah�he said he would like to.�

�I see.�

�Yeah, but hey you can come along, too.�

�That�s okay. I�ve been working on some things.�

�You have.� Both AJ and Abe questioned.

He glared at his girlfriend. �Yep. I got a call from Bob Sampson.�

Abe didn�t recognize the name but AJ did.

�There is no fuckin� way you are going back to Jive!�

�Jealous?�

�AH hell no! It would only be worse if you said Lou.�

�I didn�t say was going back to them,� he replied, defensiveness creeping into his tone. �I just said he called.�

�And,� asked Abe, the knot in her stomach getting tighter.

�And I may see what they have to say.�

BELLA'S STORY
Installment One ~ What You Need
Installment Two ~ Heartbreak's Interlude
Installment Three ~ All I Need

"All I Need" is a work of fiction.
The characters and events portrayed are fictitious,
and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.

Used with Permission
Copyright ©2004
All Rights Reserved
No part of this text may be copied or reprinted
without the author's permission.

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